Cage diving with Great White Sharks may be a once in a lifetime experience, but for many the thought of heading beneath the waves with these creatures of the deep is enough to make them pause for thought! Luckily though we are here to help, and today we are bringing you the 8 things you need to know to survive your experience with sharks!
1. They Would Really Rather Not Eat You...You've Got Nothing On A Seal
Whilst a shark would not turn down a human shaped appetiser if it was desperate, their preferred source of food is seals, sea lions and other marine mammals. I mean would you rather have a human shaped bag of bones or a nice plump seal for dinner? Neither you say? You’d never make it as a shark…
2. Remember To Wrap Up Warm After You're Out Of The Water
The sea can be a little chilly at times, and after you have gotten out of the cage post dive you will regret it if you don’t bring some warm clothes to put on. We are not talking full Arctic exploration gear here, but a jumper and a pair of loose fitting trousers will soon prove their worth when those cold ocean winds start to kick in.
3. Don't Watch Jaws Before You Head Out
For anyone that hasn’t seen it before, Jaws is a film about a shark that doesn’t take too kindly to humans appearing on his beach. This is often the go to reference point for people when discussing sharks, but this fictional movie is exactly that and it is not a fair representation of the striking sharks you will see beneath the waves, so do yourself a favour and leave the DVD in the wrapper until you return home!
4. You Shouldn't Panic - Just Remember You Are In A Cage!
The worst thing you could do beneath the waves is to panic as you are as safe as can be down there. You are inside a thick metal cage, so even if the sharks really wanted to get to you (which we discussed earlier and they do not) they would not be able to. As long as you are comfortable beneath the water (and why else would you have booked a shark diving project!) you will be ok, so before you go why not practise by simply holding your breath in the bath using your rubber duck as a fake shark?
5. Don't Try And Stroke The Sharks....
This should be a given, as dangling your arm outside of the cage is effectively presenting the sharks with the option of a takeaway meal….
6. Watch Out For The Turtles And Fish. They Will Know If A Shark Is Around Long Before You Do
The other animals you will find beneath the waves are much more adept at telling when a shark is approaching as they have had more practise than you. Unless you have one of the world’s most specific and fairly useless superpowers (especially as humans live on land), namely being able to detect when a Great White is going to appear, then it is well worth watching what the turtles and other marine animals do as you’ll soon know if you are about to be joined by a shark.
7. You're Not Trying To Impress The Sharks, So Leave The Jewellery At Home
Great Whites in particular have a fondness for shiny jewellery as it reflects the light and can easily be mistaken, in a sharks eyes anyway, for fish scales. As you can imagine, fish scales are a good way to attract sharks, and depending on how close of a view you would like to have of a Great White, it is recommended to leave the diamonds at home.
8. Last But Not Least, Enjoy Yourself!
The 8th and final thing to take on board to ensure you survive your shark experience is to enjoy it. You may be a little nervy when getting into the water for the first time, but once you are immersed beneath the waves you will soon realise why this is an experience that those who have done it before talk about for years to come. Seeing one of the world’s most highly tuned predators up close and personal is a once in a lifetime experience, so all that’s left to say is what are you waiting for?
If you would like the chance to dive with Great White Sharks whilst aiding their conservation, then why not check out the Great White Shark Project which is on special offer this month. You will get 15% off the cost of your trip if you book by the 31st March, so take a look at the project page and email the travel team on [email protected] with any questions you may have!
